Ross Barkley could stay at Everton, hints caretaker manager David Unsworth

Questions are being raised as the England man approaches the final six months of his contract

Picture: (Getty Images / Alex Livesey / Stringer)

Everton caretaker manager David Unsworth wants Ross Barkley to stay at Goodison Park, he has revealed in a press conference.

Barkey's future remains uncertain at Everton after a move to Chelsea fell through on deadline day in August, but Unsworth believes the 23-year-old could be an all-time Toffees great.

The midfielder is in the final year of his contract with Everton and has so far refused to sign new terms.

A major storyline of Ronald Koeman's tenure were rumours of a mixed relationship with the Evertonian that eventually appeared to alienate the player.

But Unsworth, who has taken temporary charge of Everton after Ronald Koeman was sacked on Monday, said: "My opinion of Ross is I would absolutely love him to stay. He could be one of the all-time greats here.

"We shouldn't be losing players of his quality. I feel very strongly that we should not be losing our own players. I would love him to discuss the idea of signing a new contract."

Asked about the progress of Barkley's recovery from his hamstring injury, Unsworth said: "He is coming along nicely."

This is not the first time Unsworth has sat in the manager's chair, as he lead Everton to thrash Norwich 3-0 in May 2016.

But his current caretaker spell is likely to be longer: he will be in the dugout as Everton face Chelsea in their Carabou Cup tie on Wednesday and is also expected to guide Everton at Leicester on Sunday.